Shelter Volunteer Memorialized through Children's Library

Naples, FL –The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and Jewish Women International’s (JWI) National Library Initiative are pleased to announce the dedication of the Victoria L. Burke Library, created for children survivors of domestic violence in memory of the devoted volunteer.

The library, which was dedicated during a ceremony held at the Shelter on Sunday, November 5, was made possible by the generosity of Victoria’s husband Dr. Eugene Burke and is the 21st in a series of 100 libraries that will be created inside battered women’s shelters throughout the US during the next five years as part of the JWI National Library Initiative.

According to Dr. Eugene Burke, “Vicki often brought flowers to the Shelter because she believed that although they couldn’t do much for the women’s physical circumstances, they could do wonders to improve their spiritual circumstances.” He continued, “In the same way, we hope that the Victoria L. Burke Children’s Library will do much to improve the spiritual circumstances of the children affected by domestic violence.”

Housed inside the organization’s 60-bed emergency shelter, the library is part of an initiative that provides children victims of domestic abuse living in a selected shelter with a safe, comforting place to relax that includes attractive oak shelving, child-size tables/chairs, rocking chairs, a colorful carpet and hundreds of books.

In addition to the supplies provided by JWI, Jewish Family Services, a program of the Jewish Federation of Collier County (JFCC), generously enhanced the library by providing a computer and workstation in memory of Victoria Burke, who in addition to her volunteer services with the Shelter was a long time JFCC committee member.

“We can’t express our appreciation enough,” explained Shelter CEO Kathy Herrmann Catino. “Vicki was an amazing woman with a beautiful soul and generous spirit ... her legacy will live on through the library.” She concluded, “Books transport children to another place and time, help them explore the world in safe ways and challenge their ways of thinking. Beyond their physical safety, I know of no greater gift that we can provide them, so I thank and congratulate Dr. Eugene Burke, Jewish Women International, Jewish Family Services/Jewish Federation of Collier County for this most generous gift to the Shelter.”

To enhance the library, the Shelter is collecting donations of new books, in a range from infants to teens, at the Shelter’s Options Thrift Shoppe, 968-Second Avenue North, Naples. For more information on Jewish Women International and the National Library Initiative, please call 800-343-2823.

For more information about the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Options Thrift Shop, as well as programs and services, please call 239-775-3862, or visit the Shelter’s website at www.naplesshelter.org.

Media Contact:
Mary Ann T. Green, mgreen@naplesshelter.org, 239-775-3862, ext. 211